Instagram is turning Direct into a standalone app

Facebook owned popular photo-sharing platform Instagram is working on a standalone app called Direct for private messages, which will replace the current messaging features from the main app.Earlier in 2014, Facebook separated the main app from the messaging platform and released Messenger. At that time Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said "On mobile, each app can only focus on doing one thing well". Now Facebook is taking the same route for Instagram as well.The Direct app's interface is very similar to Snapchat as it opens the camera. The app will be available for Android and iOS devices, and once you install it, the inbox will disappear from the main Instagram app, and can only be accessed in Direct messaging app.“Direct has grown within Instagram over the past four years, but we can make it even better if it stands on its own. We can push the boundaries to create the fastest and most creative space for private sharing when Direct is a camera-first, standalone app.” said Hemal Shah, an Instagram product manager.The app consists of three screens, and it opens to the camera interface. To the left of the camera is the profile screen that lets you access settings, switch accounts and navigate to various corners of Instagram. To the right is the inbox for messages. It also offers four exclusive filters, that are not available in the main Instagram app.The Direct app is currently available in six countries as a preview: Chile, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, and Uruguay. It is not known if the app will be available for other countries, but if it goes global, parent company Facebook is offering a third popular messaging service alongside Messenger and WhatsApp.Source | Via